Means for heating with water



Oct. 2, 1934. B F, RANDEL 1,975,617

' MEANS FOR HEATING WITH WATER Original Filed Feb. 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7 j 7a 1 1 1 1 11 11 11 1 1-@1 .1 .1 :1 1 1 1 1 1 11 1| l@ d Munn 6 4 nnnnnr i i 1' Y l lil-l r1? M Afm Oct. 2, 1934. B F RANDEL I 1,975,617

MEANS FOR HEATING WITH WATER Original Filed Feb. 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 cia Patented ct. 2, 1934.-

1,975,611 MEANS. Foa HEATING WITH WATER Bo Folke Ran'del,l San Diego, Calif., assignor to C. A. Dunham Company, Marshalltown, Iowa,

arcorparation of Iowa original' application February 25, 1929., serial No. 342,423. Divided and this application April l,

1932, ,serial No. 602,570

11 Claims. (Cl. 237-67) This invention relatesto the art of heating, and more especially to a new and improved means for heating with water, in which hot water from a boiler or other source of supply is delivered under pressure to a radiator or radiators or other heating system and is admitted to each radiator or other heating device through a suitable expansion valve, preferably operated by differential pressure. The pressurerin the radiator or heating system is maintained sufliciently lower than the pressure of the hot `water supply so that the heated water will expand into vapor ,form under this lower pressure, then condense back to liquid form in the radiator or heating system, thecondensate passing through a thermostatic trap or traps to the vacuum pump and from the high pressuredischarge of said pump back to the boiler or othersource of supply.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 342,423, filed February 25, 1929,.in which the novel method of heating is claimed. Y y

At the present state of development in the art of heating with water, hot water at a temperature of approximately 180F. is delivered to the radiators and is discharged atapproximately 155 F. The heat transfer per pound of water incirculation is therefore approximately 25 B. t.u. To increase this heat transfer it would be necessary to lincrease. the temperature of the water and this is done in so-called closed systems, vwhere thetemperature is maintained at 250 F. or over. While this arrangement from a heat transfer standpoint is an improvement, allowing as it does for smaller' pipes and more economical installations,it is however objectionable on account of the increasezof the sensible heat-of the radiators..v

The so-called hygienic temperature in a radiatorV is approximately 155 F. or less-and any increase of this temperature is objectionable.

In my improved system of heating, which is a combination of water, vapor and vacuum systems, I considerably increase the heat transfer over otherl water heating systems, and at thesame-time I retain-the sensible ltemperature of the radiator Within hygienic limits.

This improved methodY of heating is based uponV the fact that heated water under pressurevwill immediately flash into steam when admitted into a spacein which the pressure has been suffi-- ciently reduced. Thus if water at a temperature of about 300 F. and under 55 poundspressure is admitted into a space where aypressure of 25 inches of vvacuum is maintained, it will flash into steam at a temperatureof about 12.6 Fahrenheit. Now if the steam or vapor is recondensed in this space, byfurther cooling, to liquid form, the condensate leaving the space at the temperature of 126 F., the heat transfer would be 300 minus 126 or 174 B. t. u. per pound of water passing through. And while the temperature of the incoming water was 300 F., the sensible tem.- perature in such space would be only about 126 F. The heat transfer would, therefore, be approximately seven times as much as in ordinary hot water heating systems.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for heating with hot Water, such as briefly described hereinabove and disclosed more in detail in the specifications which follow. Y

Another object is to provide an improved means for heating by means of a combination of water and steam, circulated in a closed heating system..

Another object is to provide an improved formof` expansionvalve for admitting the hot water to the radiators.

.Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of certain approved forms of apparatus particularly adapted for carrying out the principles ofthis invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of the improved heating apparatus.

' Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section through one yform of a differential pressure expansion valve used in this system.

Figs. 3 and 4 are-views similar to Fig. 2 showing other modified forms of this expansion valve.

the risers 5 and 5a. The hot water is admitted to radiators 4 and 4a through the separate inlet expansion valves 6 and 6a, these valves preferably being controlled by variations in the pressure differential between the hot water supply and the condensing space within the radiators. After passing ythrough these expansion valves 6 and 6a into the radiators, which are kept under a lower pressure, the hot Water flashes into vapor form within the condensing spaces. This vapor, on

meeting the colder surfaces of the radiator, condenses back to liquid form, the latent heat of condensation being given off by the radiators so as to heat the air within the building in which the radiators .are positioned. The condensate passes out ofthe radiators throughl the thermostatic return traps 7 and 7a and pipes 8 and 8a into the return main 9.

The thermostatic traps 7 and 7a may be of the conventional type provided ywith thermostatic discs or bellows lled with a volatile liquid, said liquid vaporizing when subjected to steam temperature so as to close the outlet port, The traps will be adjusted to pass air and condensate but not to pass steam, the heat of the steam closing the port by the expansion'of the discs or bellows.

The condensate passes through return main 9 and check valve 9a to the exhausting mechanism.

This exhausting mechanism comprises the centrifugal pump 10 which delivers the water from the tank 10b at high velocity through ejector 16cwith the suction chamber of which return main 9 communicates, producing a 'vacuum in the pipe 9 and a pressure in pipes 10d and 11. The water of the ejector jet, together with the condensate and air withdrawn through pipe 9, are delivered into tank 10b. 'through the pipe connection 10h. The tank 10b is Vented at 10a, allowing non-condensible Ygases to be discharged from the system. When the water level within tank 10b (indicated at 10g) reaches a certain height, oat 10e will open valve 10j, permitting a part of the condensate to be returned to the boiler under pressure through pipe 11.`

Before entering the boiler, this condensate is passed through an ejector 12, the action of this ejector 12 being to cause positive circulation through supply main 2 from the boiler outlet to the. return` inlet, thus `keeping the water in sup-` high temperature maintainedV the inlet of each radiator 4 and 4a, which will retain a certain pressure drop through the valve, permitting the liquid to expand and evaporate, and which will automaticallyopen or close when this pressure differential; increases-or decreases.

:No-vel diierential: pressure expansion Valves ofthis type are shown in Figs. 2, 3V and 4, the generalprinciple of' operation being similar in the three forms.

Iny thisvalve the differential pressure element is shown in disc form at 13 in Fig." 2, and in bel-.

lowsfformfat;13min Figs. 3.and4. This diierential pressure element is enclosed in a valve bodyl, andthe inside of saidl element connects through tube 14 with the outlet or low pressure end of 'the valve, the high pressure inletof the valve being at 16. v

The movable valve member is shown in Fig. 2l

at 17 in .con'e'fornm in Fig. 3 at 17a, in disc form,

and inv Fig. 4l at 17h, in-sleeve form. The sleeve 17h has ports 17c (see Fig. 5) whichare opened sure differencelwill 'affect'l this element, contract-.i

ing or expanding the same with the increasing or decreasing of this pressure differential, thus opening or closing the valve. It will also be seen that by moving the entire differential mechanism, including the differential element, tube 14 and valve disc vor sleeve, any predetermined pressure differential may be established. The valve may thus be set for any desired drop of pressure from inlet to outlet, and this drop will then be permanent under4 any conditions of pressure on the high or low pressure sides. Thus if set at a 20 pound drop, the high pressure may be 30 pounds with the low pressure 10 pounds, and if high pressure shouldincrease to pounds, the low pressure will increase to 20 pounds, maintaining a drop of 20 pounds. Therefore, in this improved system of heating, any definite pressure may be maintained in the radiator, and any increase of such pressure will close the inlet valve by expanding the differential pressure element, thus maintaining a denite pressure drop."

In Fig. 2- I` have arranged for hand-operation of this valveby means ofa handY wheel 18, vby which the position of the differential element may be varied to provide various differential 100 pressures. vIn Fig. I accomplish such variation by a screw 19, which will allow the operator to setY the diierential as desired. In Fig. 4, I provide a thermostatically operated bellows 22 filled with a Volatile iiuid to adjust this pressure differential, so that when a desired room temperature has been reached,` expansion of iluid in this bellows will close the valve. In this case, I also show a so-called packless construction of valve, by means of the bellows 23. Thermo- 110 static element `22v is enclosed in the open chamber 20 and may be adjusted by a screw 21. v

TheI detailed construction of thisdiierential pressure expansion valve may vary, and I may adopt any of the Vpresent conventional forms of'115 Valve sea-ts, balanced or unbalanced', cone shaped, flat disc shaped, sleeve or piston type. The differential-element may also be of any conventional form', disc style, single or multiple; bellows; piston;l etc., and I do notV desire to limit 120 myself to any definite ormof valve except as to the main form whichis a movable differential element enclosed in the valve body, surrounded by the uid under high pressure, the inside of said element being-in-communication with the 125 low` pressure discharge of said valve; As far as the broader featuresv of this invention are conc'erned it is not even necessary that a'diiierentialI pressure control valve be used. It is only necessary that some form of pressure-reducing 130 valve or similar device be used at the inlet of each radiator so that there will be suiiicient drop in the pressure'of the heated water admittedto the radiator to cause this water to ash into steam. Y

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts by wayy of example, I do-not wish tofbe limited to this particularv construction, but de'- sire toinclude in the scope of this invention any 140 equivalent form of apparatus coming within the scope ofthe following claims.

I claim:`

1. In heatingV apparatus, afsource of heated waterfunderpressure, a radiator, an exhaustingll means for withdrawing condensate, unvaporized water and non-condensible gases from the radiator and lowering the npressure therein, a steamtrap'at the outlet offtheradiator to prevent thev escape ofsteam therefrom, and meansautomati.-` 1M`l cally controlled bythe respective pressures'exsting in the source and in the radiator for introducing the heated water Vinto Ithe radiator in limited quantities whereby the pressure in the radiator willbe kept Ylower th'anthev pressure of the heated water by an `amount sufficient to cause a portion of the water introduced to be expanded into steam. Y p

2. In heating apparatus, 'a source of heated water under pressure', a radiator, an" exhausting means for withdrawing condensate, unvaporized water and non-condensible gases from the radiator and lowering the pressure therein, a steamtrap' at the outletof the radiator to prevent the escape of steam therefrom, and means automatically controlled by the respective pressures existing in the source and in the radiator for introducing the heated water into the radiator in limited quantities whereby the pressure in the radiator will be kept lower by a constant difference than the pressure of the heated water so that a portion of the water introduced will be expanded into steam.

3. In heating apparatus, a source of heated water under pressure, a radiator, an exhausting means for withdrawing condensate, unvaporized water and non-condensible gases from the radiator and lowering the pressure therein, a steam trap at the outlet of the radiator to prevent the escape of steam therefrom, means automatically controlled by the respective pressures existing in the source and in the radiator for introducing the heated water into the radiator in limited quantities whereby the pressure in the radiator will be 35A lower than the pressure of the heated water by an amount sufcient to cause a portion of the,

water introduced to be expanded into steam, and thermostatic means cooperating with the last- 40. mentioned means to cut off the flow of heated water to the radiator when a predetermined temperature has been reached in the space being heated by the radiator.

4. In heating apparatus, a source of heated water under pressure, a radiator, an exhausting 'means for withdrawing condensate, unvaporized water and non-condensible gases from the radiator and lowering the pressure therein, a steam trap at the outlet of the radiator to prevent the .escape of steam therefrom, a conduit connecting the radiator with the source of heated water, a reducing valve in the conduit at the inlet to the radiator, and means for automatically operating the valve to maintain a predetermined pressure drop between the pressure of the heated water and the fluid pressure within the radiator.

5. In heating apparatus, a source of heated water under pressure, a supply pipe leading from the source, a plurality of radiators, branch supply ,conduits leading from the supply pipe to each GQ' of the radiators, a return conduit having branches leading from each of the radiators, a steam trap at the outlet of each radiator to prevent the escape of steam therefrom, an exhausting means for withdrawing condensate, unvaporized water and non-condensible gases from the radiators through the return pipe and lowering the pressure in the radiators, a valve at the inlet of each radiator for restricting the supply of heated water thereto, and means for automatically operating the valve in response to pressure 6L In'heating apparatus, a source of heated water under pressure, asupply pipe leading from thesource, a'plurality of radiators'branch supply conduits yleading from the supply pipeto each of the radiators, a' return conduit havingbranches leadingfrom each of the radiators, a steam trap at the' outlet 4of each Vradiator to prevent the escape of steam therefrom, an exhausting means for withdrawing condensate, Vunvaporizedwater and non-condensible gases from the radiators through the return pipe and lowering the pressure in the radiators, a reducing valve in the conduit at the inlet to each radiator, and means for automatically operating the valve to maintain a predeterminedvpressure drop-between the pressure of the heated water and the fluidpressure within the radiator.

7. In heating apparatus, a water heating device, a main pipe loop for circulating heated water from and back to the heating device, a

plurality of radiators, branch pipes one leading from the pipe loop to each radiator, a pressure reducing valve in each branch pipe at the inlet to the radiator, a steam trap at the outlet of each radiator, an exhausting` means for withdrawing condensate, unvaporized water and noncondensible gases from the several radiators and lowering the pressure therein, and means for automatically operating each reducing valve in response to relative pressure changes in the radiator and branch pipe to maintain a predetermined pressure drop between the pressure of the heated water and the fluid pressure within the radiator.

8. In heating apparatus, a water heating device, a main pipe loop for circulating heated water from and back to the heating device, a plurality of radiators, branch pipes one leading from the pipe loop to each radiator, a pressure reducing Valve in each branch pipe at the inlet to the radiator, a steam trap at the outlet of each radiator, an exhausting means for withdrawing water and non-condensible gases from the several radiators, lowering the pressure in the radiators, venting the gases, and returning the water to the heating device, and means for automatically operating each reducing valve in response to relative pressure changes in the radiator and branch pipe to maintain a predetermined pressure drop between the pressure of the heated water and the iiuid pressure within the radiator. Y

9. In a heating apparatus, a water heating device, a main pipe loop for circulating heated water from and back to the heating device, a plurality of radiators, branch pipes and a pressure control valve in each branch pipe at the inlet to each radiator for separately introducing the heated water in limited quantities from the circulating pipe into the several radiators, a thermostatic means acting on each Valve to automatically cut off the flow of heated water to the radiator when a predetermined temperature has been reached in the space being heated by that particular radiator, a steam trap at the outlet of each radiator, and an exhausting means for withdrawing condensate, unvaporized water and noncondensible gases from the several radiators.

10. In heating apparatus, a water heating device, a main pipe loop for circulating heated water from and back to the heating device, a plurality of radiators, branch pipes and a pressure control valve in each branch pipe at the inlet to each radiator for separately introducing the heated water in limited quantities from the iol) ne f

ist

circulati'ngl pipe into the sey'erfa radiators, a steam trapf' at vthe outlet of each radiator, an ex? hause-H meav' for' withdrawing eedensata 111:1-A v'aporizedl Water' and pcinfcondensihle gases from the Several radiatore-i Ameans, renting, the. gases, an ejectefr inthe return end p'Qrtion of the pipe loop and ineanspfor discharging the Water returned front the .radiators through the ejector so as to promote the circulation. of the heated water. v-

11. In heating apparatus, a Water heating device, a main pipe loop for circuating heated water from and baci; to the heating device, a plurality otradiators, branch pipes and a pressure control valve in each branch pipe at the inletto each radiator for separately introducing the heated water in limited quantitiesl from the alienating ripe. int@ the Several radiators; a Stearn trap atthe outlet of ,each` radiator, an exhaustingmeans for withdrawing condensate, unvaporized yWater and non-condensble Vgases from the several radiators'cornprising an ejector, a separating tank, a. pump and pipe connectionsV for circulating a stream of Water from the tank through the ejector and returning this Water to'- gether With the Water withdrawn from the radiators to the tank, ari ejector inthe return end portion of? the pipe loop adjacent the heating device, and float"-centrolled Vmeans whereby the pump will. discharge a surplus of water from the separating tank through the last mentioned ejector into the'circulatingl .heated water.

BO FOLKE RANDEL. 

